Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Social Care and Health Integration introduced the Substance Misuse Strategy for 2016 - 2020 which set out the measures for tackling the impact of drugs and alcohol in the Borough over the next five years.

The Cabinet Member advised on the latest data relating to substance misuse in the Borough and referred to the four main objectives of the Strategy, namely:

·  Reduce the harmful impact of substance misuse on the wider community;

·  Ensure everyone can access good quality healthcare when they need it and continue to enable access to effective treatment and promote sustained recovery;

·  Enable social responsibility by supporting residents to take responsibility for themselves, their homes and their community; and

·  Protect the most vulnerable, keeping adults and children healthy and safe.

Key to achieving those aims would be a programme of prevention and education initiatives and the Cabinet Member made particular reference to the work already being carried out in schools to make children more aware of the dangers of substance abuse and the avenues open to those who experienced the effects within the family environment.  The Cabinet Member also referred to the important role of the general public in reporting substance misuse concerns to the Council, the Police, the Health Authorities and other relevant agencies, to enable appropriate action to be taken. 

The Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Agree to adopt the Substance Misuse Strategy 2016 - 2020 at Appendix 1 to the report; and

(ii)  Authorise the Strategic Director for Service Development and Integration, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Social Care and Health Integration, to agree any minor amendments to the Strategy prior to its publication.